Dissolution rates of zone refined iron and steel in hydrochloric and sulfuric acids and in sodium chloride solutions.

Dissolution rates for two carbon steels were deter­ mined in four concentrations of sulfuric acid at five temperatures and in four concentrations of hydrochloric acid at four temperatures. No general relationship was found for the variation in activation energies in sulfuric and hydrochloric acid. An explanation of the difference in the reaction rates and a possible explanation of the activation energy is presented on the basis of chunk formation. The results of this investigation indicate an electrochemical control mechanism for the dissolution reaction of steel in acid solutions. Results of dissolution rate studies in sulfuric and hydrochloric acid solutions and in sodium chloride solutions indicate oxygen plays an important role in the dissolution of very high purity iron. Grain orientation was also determined to play an important role in the dissolution reaction -Abstract p.